Ive been thinking about getting a handheld just for when we pick up a new small account that is alone from others. Our main blowers are the BR600s and even though we have several small lawns, luckily they are pretty well grouped together that its not overkill at all for the BR600s. We have several where we have 8-10 on a corner and can make the entire street/cul de sac(sp?)
look very nice when we leave.

That is how most of my route is too these day and I have a br600 that has made life nice on these group of homes.

I do totally understand the OP's question though because when I first started out down here and the route was not as dense...the little handheld do make a lot more sense. Especially if they are a secondary blower.